All was peace and quiet in the Ruhr Valley on the night of 16/17 May, 1943. At the Mohne, Sorpe, and Ennepe Dams situated along the river's tributaries, and the Eder Dam to the east, bright moonlight illuminated the night sky. The normally dark waters of the reservoirs - huge lakes held back by the mighty dams - glinted brightly in the moonshine, their calm reflections stretching away towards the distant hills. To the flak gunners on duty, relaxing in their turrets, it was a scene of tranquility, even beauty. In any case, they were sure the sky was too dangerously bright for a visit from the RAF on that starry night.
Their reverie was rudely interrupted at 00.20hrs when a Lancaster, flown by Guy Gibson, made a dummy run over the Mohne Dam to test the defenses. Quickly springing to action, anti-aircraft flak and machine guns concentrated their fire on the aircraft, green, yellow, and red tracer reflecting on the surface of the lake. The gunners still had no idea what was to come. |
|
Unscathed, Gibson called up the five aircraft in his flight, in preparation for the attack. During the next few minutes he and the crews of No. 617 Squadron were to complete on of the most daring raids in the annuls of air warfare, and overnight acquire lasting legendary status. Following Gibson's lead, one-by-one they flew their heavily modified Lancasters into a curtain of deadly gunfire, somehow maintaining a precise height of 60ft and speed of 230mph - both calibrated to allow their Barnes Wallis designed bouncing bomb to strike the dam wall, sink and explode. The rest is history.
Robert Taylor's painting captures the very essence of the Dams raids carried out more than 60 years ago: "Dinghy" Young, flying Lancaster AJ-A, heading through flak and machine gun fire towards the Mohne Dam at precisely 60ft, has just released his cylindrical, hydrostatically-triggered bouncing bomb - clearly visible against the huge splash created as it hits the water. Above, Mick martin, having already made his bombing run, courageously returns over the target with navigation lights switched on, to help draw enemy fire away from Young's aircraft. The mighty Mohne Dam has but moments to live. |
Sergeant Raymond E. Grayston
Ray Grayston has been serving in 50 Squadron when he was posted to 617 Squadron in March 1943. The flight engineer of Les Knight's Lancaster AJ-N, they attacked and successfully breached the Eder Dam. Ray was shot down on 16 September 1943, and was taken to Stalag Luft III as a POW.
Squadron Leader George L. Johnson DFM
Joining the RAF in 1940, George Johnson served with 97 Squadron before joining 617 Squadron. Bomb Aimer on American Joe McCarthy's Lancaster AJ-T, they attacked the Sorpe Dam, for which he was awarded the DFM. Commissioned a few months later, George retired from the RAF in 1962.
Sqaudron Leader Les Munro DSO DFC RNZAF
New Zealander Les Munro was the Captain and pilot of Lancaster AJ-W assigned to attack the Sorpe Dam, but was forced to turn back en-route to the target after heavy flak-damage over Holland had rendered his aircraft unable to carry on with the operation.
Sergeant Frederick E. Sutherland RCAF
'Doc' Sutherland was the front gunner on Les Knight's Lancaster AJ-N that went to the Mohne Dam, and then successfully attacked and breached the Eder Dam. Shot down four months later, he managed to evade capture and escape back to England with the help of the Resistance movements, returning through Holland, France and Spain. |
|
Fight Sergeant Grant S. McDonald RCAF
Grant McDonald was the rear gunner on Lancaster AJ-F flown by Ken Brown. On the way to the Ruhr, the gunners shot up and damaged three trains in an eventful trip before reaching the Sorpe Dam.
Corporal Beck Parsons
Vital to the whole Dambusters operation was the complete dedication by the ground crew of 617 Squadron, personified by Beck Parsons. Joining the RAF in 1940, he trained as an electrician and worked with Avro Manchesters with 207 Squadron at Waddington. In March 1943 he was posted to 617 Squadron at Scampton where he flew with Barnes Wallis during the tests on the bouncing bomb. As electrical NCO, Beck was responsible for the electrics on 'B' Fight at the time of the raid, together with 'Top Maintenance' on five of the Lancasters, including those of guy Gibson and Mick Martin.
Corporal Kenneth Lucas
Ken Lucas joined the RAF in June 1940, and trained as ground crew for Bomber Command. He was sent first to 49 Squadron at RAF Scampton, before transferring to 617 Squadron upon its formation. Involved in all the major servicing of the aircraft, Ken was heavily involved in carrying out the modifications to the aircraft before the raid, including fitting the motors that drove the belt that spun the bomb, and attaching the crucial lamps to the underside of the aircraft.
|
